Updates

Kronos Quartet/Kronos Performing Arts Association (KPAA) is very happy to announce the 10 composers—five women and five men—who will be participating in Year Four of Kronos’ Fifty for the Future project. Please welcome this eclectic group to the program as they join us in expanding the 21st-century string quartet repertoire for young players:

These ten composers will join composers from Years One, Two, and Three in creating new works, which Kronos will then premiere around the world. In addition, KPAA will provide companion materials for each piece, including scores, parts, recordings, videos, performance notes, and composer interviews, all of which will be distributed online and made available at no charge.

“Collaboration. It’s at the heart of many of NPR Music’s finest moments,” writes NPR music producer Tom Huizenga for All Songs Considered today. “And it’s in the DNA of the intrepid Kronos Quartet, which some 40 years ago began working with composers around the globe to spotlight new music. Opening our 10th anniversary concert at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., Kronos, true to form, gave an appreciative audience both a world premiere and an extraordinary surprise collaboration.” Click here to watch Kronos’ entire set from the celebration.

As part of the program, Kronos performed the world premiere of Zaghlala, Islam Chipsy’s exhilarating piece for Kronos’ Fifty for the Future education initiative. The set also included “House of the Rising Sun” as played by the Everly Brothers with The Wrecking Crew; “Summertime” by George Gershwin as played by Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin; and “Born Alone” by Wilco, for which Kronos was joined on stage by lead singer Jeff Tweedy.

Partners

An adventurous list of partners—including presenters, academic institutions, foundations and individuals—join forces to support this unprecedented project.